New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-04-04
THE RHODE ISLAND CONTEST.

The election of State officers and of Cen
eral Assembly takes place in Rhode Island on
Wednesday. The campaign has been re-
markablc one because Of the desperate effort
made to defeat the Republican candidate for
Governor and other of the Republican nom,
inccs by foul means. That is to say, the Dem
ocrats of Rhode Island have had the assistance
in their present fight for the control of the
State of i@The Providence Journal" and OF
such other descrters from the Republican col
umn as it has been able to influence. This
band of traitors is not large, but what 1T lacks
in numbers it has cndcavored to make up for
with malignity.
We have asserted that these deputy Dem
ocrats have been laboring to defeat the Rcpub
Hcan ticket by foul means. The indictment
will stand. Their opposition TO Governor
Wetmore has been one of false pretences. They
have claimed that he was not fit man TO be
ne elected Governor, and have plotted for his
destruction; and yet although repeatedly chal-
lenged to do so have been unable to point to
a single vulnerable place in his record as a
public servant. They buster and talk about
the need of reform and denounce "thc May
deal" and cxcoriatc '"Chicf" Brayton, but
when asked to demonstrate Governor Wet
morc's unfitncss for the Executive Chair they
have nothing to say that is not vague, elusive,
intangible 1t cannot be denied that the Gov
ernor has served Rhode Island faithfully and
efficiently; it cannot be denied that nc Is
man of unassailable probity in all the relations
OF life 1t cannot be denied that he was fairly
nominated by fair convention, composed Of
delegates truly representative Of party senti-
ment. And vet this is the sort OF man, this
is the sort Of public servant. this is the sort
Of . Republican nomination, that "Thc Jour
nal" and its followers have tccn ficrcely
enlisted against.
In casting about for victims to sacrifice upon
the altar of reform "Thc Journal has Sc
lccted tried and true Republicans who have
not earned such fate. There arc doubtless
black sheep In the Republican flock in Rhode
Island. just as there arc in all political flocls,
in all parties everywhere. But two wrongs
never vet made right. and the cause of prac-
tical reform is not to be promoted 10y Furnishing
the innocent. Governor Wetmorc was not
Nav dealer. '"The Journal has admitted in
terms that he was not responsible for the deal,
while all attempts to connect him coruptly
with any scheme have failcd. All, therefore,
that The Journal" can do-and that is all
that it has done in the campaign-is to keep
insisting with vast display of heat that Coy
crnor Wctmore is the representative of
bad clement in the party. But this charge,
which is backed up with no specifications, Is too
thin to spread over the whole of Rhode Island.
On another page TUE TRBUNE's Prov
idcncc correspondent submits review of the
canvass. and outlines the situation as it appears
on the eve of the battle The prospect of
Republican success is excellent. 1t is habit
with Republicans TO give a particularly good
account Of themselves in an emergency.
The eyes of the whole country Will
lie fixed on Rhode Island on Wednesday,
and we doubt not that our party friends will
meet the best expectations. by keeping the
state where she rightfully bclongs-in the
Republican column. They have only to rally
in their full strength TO defeat the Democracy,
bring "1hc Journal's" indcfcnsible trcacEcry
TO naught and win n splendid victory.